Finger-exercising device



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F. E. OSTBRHOUT. FINGER EXEEGISING DEVICE.

No. 535,220. Patented Mar. 5, 1895.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

FRANK ELMER OSTERHOUT, OF ONEIDA CASTLE, NEV YORK.

FINGER-EXERCISING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 535,220, dated March 5, 1895.

Application tiled May 19, 1894. Serial No. 511,836. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern.:

Be it known that I, FRANK ELMER OSTER- HOUT, of Oneida Castle, in the county of Oneida and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Finger-Exercising Device, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved finger exercising device which is simple and durable in construction, very effective in operation, and more especially designed for use by musicians and other persons requiring considerable muscular strength in the ngers, for properly playing the violin, piano and other musical instruments.

The device may further be used as a surgical appliance to aid in strengthening a contracted cord or muscle of the fingers, hand or arm, or be used by penmen, telegraph operators, type-writers and other operators who require finger dexterity.

The invention consists of a tube or sleeve adapted to be engaged by a finger, and a weight longitudinally adjustable on the said tube or sleeve.

The invention also consists in certain parts and details, and combinations of the same, as will be hereinafter fully described and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a perspective view of the improvement as applied. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the improvement; and Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the same,

- on the line 3-3 of Fig. l.

The improved finger exercising device is provided with a tube or sleeve A, closed at its rear end and formed at its front end with longitudinally extending slits A', so as to permit the user to conveniently insert a finger in this end of the tube, to attach the device on the finger to be exercised. On the closed end of the tube A is secured a rod B, on which is held adjusfably a weight C, by means of a set screw D.

In order to securely fasten the sleeve A at the split end to the finger of the person exercising with the device, I employ a clamping mechanism E, provided with an elongated ring E', passing around the sleeve A and formed in opposite sides with vertically disposed slcts E2 engaged by bolts or pins E3 screwing in a clamping` plate held vertically slidable in the elongated ring Irl', as plainly illustrated in Fig. 3. A set screw E5 screwing in the top of the ring E', engages the clamping plate E4, so that the operation of screwing the set screw inward forces the clamping plate E* downward, to press the top split part of the tube A into firm contact with the finger inserted in the open end of the tube. By this arrangement the two split portions of the tube A form clamping jaws adapted to be pressed in firm contact with the finger, to securely hold the tube or sleeve in place.

When the device is attached to the nger as illustrated in Fig. 1, then the party in moving the finger up and down,greatly exercises the muscles of the finger, hand, wrist and arm, so as to develop muscular power to enable him to properly play the violin, piano, and other musical instruments; or to strengthen a contracted cord or muscle of the finger, hand or arm.

The weight C is held adjustably on the rod B, to increase or decrease the weight on the sleeve in lifting the same, it being understood that the finger at its base joint forms the fulcrum,with the weight at the outer end of the device. Weights of different sizes can be used on the same rod B, to increase or decrease the weight of the device, as desired.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A finger exercising device, consisting of a tube or sleeve adapted to be engaged by a finger, and a weight held longitudinally adjustable on the said tube or sleeve, substantially as shown and described.

2. A finger exercising device, comprising a split tube or sleeve adapted to be engaged by a finger, a rod extending from the said tube, a weight held ou the said rod, and a clamping device engaging the split end of the said tube, for clamping the latter upon the finger, substantially as shown and described.

FRANK ELMER OSTERHOUT.

Writnesses:

S. A. RICKER, D. OsTEEHoUT.

ICO 

